Meet Jeff Lido, CFP®

I first became interested in financial markets while I was in college during the dot-com boom, watching my dad get excited about his portfolio as he prepared for retirement. That excitement even led me to switch my college major to business administration.

Then the bubble burst. My parents lost a substantial portion of their savings, and their trusted advisor at the time had stopped returning their calls. Watching them push back their retirement plans left me with one question: how could someone let a near-retiree take on that much risk?

I pursued my CFP® certification because I couldn’t stand the thought of families losing their dreams to bad advice. I knew I needed to be at a firm that puts clients first.

Since 2003, I’ve proudly served as a financial advisor, vowing to always act in my client’s best interest – including my parents who are now my clients. Helping families retire with clarity and confidence isn’t just my career, it’s my calling.

No two days are alike, which I enjoy. Generally, each day is a balance between reactive and proactive activities. My goal is to put all clients first, so I accommodate client requests but also take the initiative to reach out to clients who may need my help but haven’t asked. The hours needed to accomplish this vary, so I don’t stop until I know the work is done.

I firmly believe that a well-educated client is more likely to follow their financial plan and succeed. Education helps people stay calm during choppy markets. The more a person knows about finance, the more comfortable they typically are navigating their financial life. That’s why I want each client to understand what I’m recommending and why. It’s important for building trust. My clients can see that my goals and objectives are on the same side as theirs.

Nothing is more rewarding than being able to sit down with longtime clients to tell them that all their hard work and sacrifice has paid off, and they can now live the comfortable retirement they want. Helping people achieve financial goals, whether it’s retirement or a college education, is a fulfilling experience. Certainly, the thanks I get feels good, too!